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The trial of a senior German banker on corruption charges opens today in a
case in which Bernie Ecclestone, the Formula One chief executive, will be
the star witness.

Gerhard Gribkowsky, 52, former chief risk officer at BayernLB, who oversaw the
bank’s sale of its share of Formula One in 2006 and became a pit-lane
regular, is accused of corruption, abuse of confidence and tax evasion.

Court papers claim that Mr Ecclestone was the source of $44 million (£28
million) channelled to Mr Gribkowsky, allegedly to ensure that Formula One
was sold to CVC Capital Partners, its owners, so that